Baseline TGF-β correlates with protection after immunization with Plasmodium falciparum sporozoites in the controlled human malaria infection model.

Background: Here we assessed a possible relationship between baseline TGF-β concentrations and acquisition of sterile immunity after Plasmodium falciparum sporozoite immunization.
Methods: TGF-β concentrations were determined in samples of 65 malaria-naive volunteers in 4 studies either prior to and after challenge infection, or prior to and after first immunizing infection under chemoprophylaxis with P. falciparum sporozoites.
Results: High baseline TGF-β concentrations were associated with rapid acquisition of sterile protection (p = 0.028).
Conclusion: Baseline TGF-β concentrations predict the efficiency of acquisition of sterile immunity following sporozoite immunization and may represent a steady-state regulatory mechanism to keep in check immune systems with a low threshold for activation.
Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
(Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.)